Working in a CMS? Know the Facts About Community Associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)

1. Working in a CMS? Know the Facts AboutCommunity Associated MRSA(CA-MRSA)

2. Facts, not Fiction Correct information is essential because knowledge eliminates speculation.

3. CA-MRSA – What Is It? • Community Associated- Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus is caused by Staph bacteria • Staph bacteria are commonly found in the nose and on the skin • Staph is normally harmless but can cause infections on the skin and in other parts of body • CA-MRSA is a type of Staph infection that is resistant to some antibiotics like Penicillin

4. How Do You Get CA-MRSA? • Sometimes when bacteria enters the skin through a cut or scrape • Sometimes by close skin to skin contact with an infected person’s wound • Sometimes by sharing sports equipment or personal items such as towels or razors • By not cleaning a cut or scrape properly • Overuse of antibiotics or not finishing prescribed antibiotics

5. What Does CA-MRSA Look Like? • Usually a skin infection that looks like pustules or boils. Can also look like a pimple or “spider bite.” • Usually red, painful, and swollen and sometime contains pus. • Usually occurs at the site of a cut, scrape or “break in the skin”.

6. CA-MRSA Skin Infection

7. How Is It Treated? Healthcare providers : • Culture to find out if it is CA-MRSA • Drain and clean the infection and/or • Give antibiotics (in certain cases antibiotics may not be used) • Cover the wound with a secure bandage on all four sides if it is draining

8. Proper Wound Care If you have an infection you should: • CLEAN the wound daily with soap and water • COVER with a dry, secure bandage after cleaning • FINISH all prescribed antibiotics • AVOID sharing personal items at school or at home

9. Exclude from School or Sports? • Unless directed by a physician, students and staff with CA-MRSA should not be excluded from attending school or work. • It is not required, but is our practice, to inform the school community about confirmed CA-MRSA. • If an athlete has an infection with drainage they should be excluded from participation until the wound is dry with no further drainage.

12. Wash hands often with warm soap and water Clean all cuts and scrapes well with soap and water Cover wounds with dry bandage until healed Report suspicious skin sores to a parent, school nurse and/or doctor Do not share personal items such as towels, clothing, or razors Shower after physical activity Wash athletic clothing after use Clean and disinfect shared athletic equipment after use Athletes must securely cover with a bandage any skin lesion before potential physical contact Athletic and Physical education departments show CA-MRSA video to ALL ATHLETES Prevention

13. Practical Advice for Teachers/Athletic Staff • Refer any student with a pustular skin rash or any open draining wounds to the school nurse. • Enforce good hand washing with soap and water. This is the single best measure to help prevent the spread of any communicable disease. • Coaches should ensure athletes wash their hands, cover any wounds, and not share any personal items and towels.

14. Guidelines • Maintain confidentiality by not discussing health issues of students or staff with other students or staff • No form of quarantine is necessary • Routine but thorough environmental cleaning is sufficient in most cases. (CMS uses EPA registered products). Weight rooms and equipment should be cleaned more frequently.

15. More Information • Your School Nurse • Mecklenburg County Health Department web site www.meckhealth.org CMS website www.cms.k12.nc.us CDC website www.cdc.gov This presentation is a collaborative effort between the Mecklenburg County Health Department and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools